Maybe I am an optimist but I still see a Premier League player in RVT, someone who can play as an inside forward, a la Welbeck, for a mid-table team. His strengths are that he is unpredictable and is very good in the air when arriving at the back post. I believe that if he stayed injury free and played week in week out he could produce a bit of form and consistency.

I agree with TTS too he does add balance. We just don't get enough men in the box when we play with 2 out and out wingers like Downing and Jarvis. We need someone to play as an inside forward on the other flank. RVT could do a job like that and help us to finish around 12th-17th IMO, but if we're aiming higher then he should be on the bench.

If Richards proves himself with Fiorentina hopefully we'll be able to take him on a free transfer next year. Or better yet after a half a season of bench warming Nastasic might be more welcoming to joining The West Ham Revolution

denzel wrote:Maybe I am an optimist but I still see a Premier League player in RVT, someone who can play as an inside forward, a la Welbeck, for a mid-table team. His strengths are that he is unpredictable and is very good in the air when arriving at the back post.

Very good in the air?? Have you seen the amount of missed headed chances he has had this season?

Exiledin cardiff wrote:So Leon Rivers what's wrong saying Vaz would be ok in the championship, when he clearly was so there's no lies in that statement at all,

then again it's no victory when you've bested a fool, but I'll take pleasure in it anyway,

thejackhammer wrote:Let's face it he was more than 'okay'.

I'm starting to wonder if I should pop open the blocked posts every so often. I wonder how long 'exiled' has been internet stalking me.

But yes, jackhammer. He was quite clearly more than "OK". Scored one or two less than Rickie Lambert, despite playing half the season at a poor-to-average club, and half the season with us. A good portion of his time with us was spent on the left as well.

denzel wrote:Maybe I am an optimist but I still see a Premier League player in RVT, someone who can play as an inside forward, a la Welbeck, for a mid-table team. His strengths are that he is unpredictable and is very good in the air when arriving at the back post. I believe that if he stayed injury free and played week in week out he could produce a bit of form and consistency.

I agree with TTS too he does add balance. We just don't get enough men in the box when we play with 2 out and out wingers like Downing and Jarvis. We need someone to play as an inside forward on the other flank. RVT could do a job like that and help us to finish around 12th-17th IMO, but if we're aiming higher then he should be on the bench.

A 100% fair and accurate assessment.

I'd add that there's little to choose between sides finishing 8th/9th and those finishing 12th really. But yeah, he's probably not quite of the standard you'd want from a forward at a side aiming for the top positions.

As you have said, I'd have liked his to have stayed injury free over the past two seasons. He does seem to take quite a while to get into his stride. He needs that consistency of selection to reach his peak. I personally thought he was outstanding in our Championship season, and started the first season back well until the shoulder injury. I think he'll get a bit of time to try and get some momentum going whilst we wait for Valencia to acclimatise, assuming that Allardyce has him earmarked for the inside forward role of course.

Fans will be prevented from appearing on Sky Sports News HQ on transfer deadline day after footage of sex aids, obscene outbursts and a firework-wielding mob marred its coverage of the end of the last window.

Telegraph Sport has learnt that the broadcaster has taken the unprecedented step of asking clubs to allow its team of roving reporters inside their stadia and training grounds during Monday’s final hours of the January market.

Fans will be prevented from appearing on Sky Sports News HQ on transfer deadline day after footage of sex aids, obscene outbursts and a firework-wielding mob marred its coverage of the end of the last window.

Telegraph Sport has learnt that the broadcaster has taken the unprecedented step of asking clubs to allow its team of roving reporters inside their stadia and training grounds during Monday’s final hours of the January market.